Speaker says only MCP and UDF to give official response to budget: Not tiny UTM, PP

Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara announced that only Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) will give official response to the 2019/20 national budget statement when the House re-convene for general debate as tiny parties UTM and PP will not be making formal statements.

Speaker Gotani Hara enters parliament during budget presentation -pic by Lisa Kadango

UTM and Peoples Party (PP) have four and five legislators in the House respectively while MCP is the main opposition party with over 50 MPs while the erstwhile  ruling  UDF has 10 representatives.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Joseph Mwanamvekha presented the K1.731 trillion 2019/20 National Budget statement in Parliament on Monday.

The House has now gone into Cluster Committees to scrutinize the Budget from in line with Standing Order 137(2).

After Cluster Committee meetings, the House will re-convene on Tuesday September 24 2019 for general debate on the Budget.

Speaker said before the general debate, there will be responses by the opposition party spokespersons on finance.

“Therefore, according to Standing Order 190(1)(d), it will be MCP and UDF [who will give official responses from the opposition],” said the Speaker .

“Thereafter, it will be a response from the Chairperson of the Budget Committee, to be followed by reports by the Chairpersons of Cluster Committees, before the General Debate on the Budget,” Gotani-Hara added.

According to the Speaker,  it is expected that the general debate will be concluded on Monday,  October 7 2019 with a winding-up speech by Minister of Finance Mwanamvekha.

“Immediately after the winding-up speech, the House will go into a Committee of Supply, which is expected to be concluded by Wednesday, 9th October, 2019,” the Speaker said.

“From Thursday, 10th October, to Friday, 11th October, 2019 before adjournment Sine Die, the House will pass the Appropriation Bill and also consider the remaining business on the Order Paper,” she added.

Leader of the House Kondwani Nankhumwa confrmed that the announcement by the Speaker is “a true reflection” of what transpired during the Business Committee meeting of parliament.

Acting leader of opposition, Lobin Lowe of MCP  also said what the Speaker   communicated is “exactly” what transpired during the  business committee meeting.

And UDF’s leader in the House, Lilian Patel also confirmed that is the position of Business Committee.

Meanwhile, , Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) president Chikumbutso Kalilombe described the budget as balanced, observing that some issues that were suggested during consultations have been taken on board.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
15 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hambakahle
Hambakahle
4 years ago

I think UDF should be replaced by UTM on official budget response. Commanding 1 million plus voters ain’t a mean achievement for party just 7 months old!

Njolo mpilu
Njolo mpilu
4 years ago

ingotini duuuuuuu.
a spika tsopano kumva kukoma ndi ndalama yolandilila kumanzere. tinguti ceteeeeer

ben 10
ben 10
4 years ago

apart from being tiny parties speaker saw them useless senseless..ku court zawavutanso agaluwa

Noxy
4 years ago

Shaaaa tiny party shaaaa as if you Speaker are joking

Winston Msowoya
Winston Msowoya
4 years ago

You fools,the only Party in Malawi today,is the UTM the Party of the people.Dpp and MCP are by far rogue Parties without substance and that is why overwhelming supporters attend UTM Rallies ,the Party led by a young man with brilliant massage to the supporters.How would someone follow tired Parties like the killer MCP and corrupt DPP who have created immense political and economic catastrophe Malawi had never seen before.How would the people of Malawi being misled by two rogue brothers who did not even take part in the liberation of our country? For your information Malawians,Bingu and Mathanyula were… Read more »

Ntambo: Ndilibe nanu mawu

Walya vichi Musowoya?

tung'ande
tung'ande
4 years ago

UTM has 1m voters out here and you can not call it a tiny party. That is ruddeness

Arafati chimali
Arafati chimali
4 years ago
Reply to  tung'ande

Kkkkkk mundithandizr kudabwa 1million votes ma mp 4, bolatu ku court akanadandawula kuti anawabera ma mp zikanamvekako

National CEO
National CEO
4 years ago

Three parties(including AFORD) will not comment. Even the Independent MPS, who are in large numbers will not comment, which I think is not good.

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
4 years ago

where is the much touted UTM- Party? My God. Its president Saulosi anatitsanzika kale kwa Kauma. Lero akamati its a tiny party i wonder. Akweni muli kuti? A Jessie kodi mwabwelera ku Chalk ku Chnaco? Nanga a Malunga Chidanti? What about Moya Masangwi? Che Manganya mulipo? I dont see you ku Court. Mwatopa kale? Munasiya Prado ija ya ADRA lero mukudalira tikuferanj? Tractor Munakwera ku Comesa ija ili kuti lodi mutipatse tikalimire. You guys came with pomp koma munafulumira kulankhula che ARAFATI. Mau anu akutsatani . Lero speaker kumakutchulani tiny parties ndi PP ya Mama Mtila. Shame

Mwe'ene
Mwe'ene
4 years ago
Reply to  Mulopwana

Mafunso awa nde in KGs, ayankhidwe basi.
Matama onse aja anali empty eti?

Jamax
Jamax
4 years ago

Shaaaaaa!!!! ana a Absalomu Chilima you are just useless MPs you cannot contribute anything regarding the budget kkkkk !!!!!!! ndipo this is just the begginning of the worst – muyaluka ngati mfiti yogwa palichero.

Joloza
4 years ago
Reply to  Jamax

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Mfiti yogwa palichero unayiwona Kuti Jamax. Uzicheza bwinotu. God humbles the proud but gives Grace to the humble.

Charie
Charie
4 years ago
Reply to  Joloza

Kkkkkk ng’oma yolilitsa sikharitsa chilima analephera kugwira ntchito ngati wachiwiri wa tsogoleri wadziko .kuli bwanji atakhala president

Dinga
Dinga
4 years ago
Reply to  Charie

Absalom ndi Lazalo vuto ndi pride ija idamgadabuza Lucifer from Heaven

Read previous post:
We managed to discredit UTM evidence in Malawi poll case, says MEC lawyer

Lawyer Tamanda Chokhotho represent Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), the second respondent in the historic presidential elections case, has said they...

Close